New Zealand's World Cup-winning captain, Kirk was renowned for his thoughtful character as much as his appetite for a sniping break. A scrum-half with Otago and Auckland, he courted controversy among some of his peers when refusing to tour South Africa with the rebel Cavaliers in 1986 but later captained the 'Baby Blacks' against Australia and France, while the tourists were serving a suspension. At the World Cup he overcame indifference to his talents, the selectors at times preferred Jock Hobbs before he was ruled out with concussion, and also the fact that Andy Dalton was made captain for the tournament, to lead the All Blacks to their only title. Dalton's injury before their opener against Italy opened the door for Sean Fitzpatrick at hooker and Kirk as skipper and neither looked back. Kirk played one further Test following their final win over France, against Australia, before packing his bags for Oxford on a Rhodes scholarship. He played in the 1987 and 1988 Varsity matches, winning the second.